DF Balloon Flight Rules and Information

DF Contest Entry Form

Edge of Space Sciences will launch one balloon from either Windsor, CO or Deer Trail, CO (TBD) on September 26th, 2009. Please review the following information.

• The balloon (EOSS #146) will launch at approximately 07:10 local time. This balloon will carry a payload string including an amateur radio television camera, digital camera and a radio direction-finding beacon. This flight has been designed to help improve the skills of the EOSS track and recovery team and anyone wishing to track a radio beacon from the ground to the upper levels of the atmosphere back to the ground. There will be two operational events for this flight:
• One event is a DF practice / Refresher for EOSS members to sharpen their skills using EOSS DF techniques and reporting processes.
• The second event is a DF Contest to track and locate the balloon payload. Registered participants will use a EOSS-provided buddy tracker to help triangulate the payload location. Participants will qualify for prizes as outlined on the EOSS Web site.
  • All participants will be given a tactical call sign and a list of primary frequencies.
  • The EOSS track and recovery team leader (tactical call sign ALPHA) will coordinate the efforts of all teams in the field.
  • Participants must check in with the ALPHA at the pre-designated start point which will be the launch site. Changes in the launch site will be announced during the preflight net as well as posted on the www.EOSS.org Website. Click on EOSS Flying DF Contest.
  • To help triangulate the location of EOSS #146, the EOSS ground station (call AE0SS) will periodically provide a bearing to the balloon from a location off to the side of the flight path through out the flight.

Please follow the EOSS Participant Guidelines below.

Participant Guidelines

The following is a list of guidelines that all participants must follow.

1. All participants participate at their own risk.
2. Participants must follow the traffic laws as well as the laws of physics.
3. All Participants must register either on line at the launch site registration table. The Registration Form is available on line if participants wish to fill out forms early.
4. This registration enters you into a drawing for many prizes generously provided by Ham Radio Outlet.
5. All participants are encouraged to check into the preflight net at 8:00 p.m., Friday, September 25, on the 147.225 CRA Repeater (PL 107.2 Hz). The information provided on the net will also be posted on the EOSS website. Checking into the net will allow participants to ask questions before the flight.
6. All vehicles participating in the recovery must have VHF/UHF radio communications and the appropriate maps for the predicted flight path. We recommend the participants be able to listen and talk on two frequencies: the net described earlier on a local repeater and a simplex frequency for in-field coordination. The latter is usually 146.55 MHz simplex. If you do not have radio communications capability we will arrange for you to follow a EOSS member on the chase.
7. All participants must monitor the flight operations voice frequencies. Please see the eoss.org pre-flight page and monitor the pre-flight net for frequency.
8. Alpha will maintain a radio net to confirm radio contact to all teams. A Net Role Call will happen at the following times:
   • 0630 hrs, prior to launch: NET Control will call your call sign please respond with your call sign
   • Burst: Net control will call for your call sign to hear you respond with your call sign
   • Landing: Net Control will call for your call sign to hear you respond with your location in LAT/LONG
9. All registered participants must check in and out of the net. Please inform us on your status. We want to make sure everyone is out of the field.
10. Contesters may only use RF Direction Finding (RDF) for tracking the balloon. Use of APRS will disqualify contestants from winning prizes.
11. Once it has been determined (by the EOSS Staff) that the EOSS #146 payload string is on the ground, Alpha will call the NET and request each station to report the lat/ long of their current location and their millage from the start point. (example: KC0UUO: lat/long 45miles.)
12. No one is to enter on private land without permission – no trespassing! Only when permission has been granted from the landowner and approval from either the track and recovery lead or the mission coordinator may anyone enter the property.
13. All prizes will be awarded at the October 13 EOSS meeting (if a winner is unable to attend the meeting EOSS will make arrangements to get the prize to the participant). See the eoss.org website for meeting location and details.
    • The closest 3 contestants to the EOSS #146 payload string upon landing will get one of the 3 gift certificates to Ham Radio Outlet.
    • All participants/contestants of this flight, both EOSS members and non-members, will be eligible for 4 different raffle prizes. YOU MUST BE AT THE MARCH MEETING TO WIN THE RAFFLE.
14. 11. Be Safe and Have Fun!
     

DF Buddy

The DF Buddy is a "virtual" station that will give cross bearings to the balloon during the flight thus enabling individuals to DF the payload ALONE using triangulation with the DF buddy vector information. Below are three locations where these reports may be generated from.

Raffle Prizes

DF Contest prizes donated by Ham Radio Outlet. We thank HRO for their generosity. Prizes have been collected and managed by Mike Pappas W9CN and are as follows.

1st Prize - $100 gift certificate to HRO

2nd Prize - $75 gift certificate to HRO

3rd Prize - $ 25 gift certificate to HRO

4th Prize - MFJ-1722 Dual Band Mag Mount Antenna

5th Prize - MFJ-108B Dual Clock 24/12

6th Prize - MFJ-281 Speaker

7th Prize - World Radio and Television Handbook 2008